A High Court judge will consider whether it was unlawful to order dementia sufferer Lord Janner to appear in court in person to face child sex charges.

Lawyers acting for the former Labour peer and MP told Westminster Magistrates' Court in London that their application has been listed "urgently" before a judge and is likely to be heard either tomorrow or Thursday.

Senior District Judge Howard Riddle, the chief magistrate, ruled last week that Janner must attend the magistrates' court on Friday to face 22 charges spanning a period from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Janner, 87, did not have to attend today's hearing. Last Friday his lawyers said he was too ill to attend the court for a first hearing in the case and argued he may suffer a "catastrophic reaction" if made to appear in future.

Paul Ozin, representing Janner, told the court that ordering his client to attend the hearing in person would cause him "considerable distress and harm" which would violate his rights under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.

"We have heard medical evidence that Lord Janner is a particularly vulnerable person likely to suffer an extreme reaction to an environment which is unfamiliar," he said.

"Steps taken to get Lord Janner to court would undoubtedly cause distress for Lord Janner's family ... which would be wholly unnecessary if the High Court concludes the decision of this court is unlawful."

Arguing that Friday's hearing should be adjourned for at least a week to await the High Court decision, he added: "We would submit having the case listed for Friday is not the most sensible way to deal with the matter."

Lord Greville Janner in 2010 (Image: Fiona Hanson/PA Wire)

The case is currently listed for a hearing at the High Court on Thursday afternoon before two judges.

Lawyers are expected to apply to the court for an order that Friday's hearing at the magistrates' court should not go ahead pending a judicial review of the decision that Lord Janner must attend.

Judge Riddle ruled last week that Janner did not have to understand or play a part in the initial hearing but was required by law to attend.

Greville Janner was Labour MP for West Leicester for 27 years from 1970 to 1997, before becoming a peer when he left the Commons. He was suspended by the Labour Party in April.

An independent review in April overturned the original ruling of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alison Saunders that Janner should not be charged for alleged child sex crimes because of his Alzheimer's.

She is the first DPP to have a major prosecuting decision reviewed and overturned through the new policy.

Janner's family strongly denies claims he used his power as an MP to abuse vulnerable young boys at a local children's home.